39 killed in terror attacks on Christmas in Nigeria

Abuja: A wave of terror attacks, including two on Christmas Day church services, by a radical Muslim sect killed at least 39 people and injured many across Nigeria.

In the first blast, 27 people were killed and many more injured when St Theresa's Church in Madalla near capital Abuja was targeted. The spokesman for radical sect Boko Haram, Abu Qaqa claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The death toll rose to 39 as another church bombing and two suicide attacks were witnessed in other northern cities.

The explosion at St. Thesera's Catholic occurred after a Mass to celebrate Christmas while the second church bombing took place in a Mountain of Fire church in central city of Jos where constant clashes have taken place between Muslims and Christians.

Police in cities of Damaturu in Yobe state and Maiduguri in Borno state today said the number of wounded are still being counted as a suicide bomber attacked the two restive cities.

The carnage in Madalla left at least 17 cars damaged by the bomb which killed those who queued up to drive or board commercial vehicles to their homes.

The increase in number of deaths from an initial 25 came as more died in hospitals where they were taken to for medical attention.

"The owners of these vehicles queued up to drive home after the early morning mass where the message of love, peace and joy was delivered to herald the Feast of Nativity. Sadly, what we met was this ugly situation," the pastor of the church, Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi said.